Sitt joins pack seeking NYC outlets

Suddenly, outlet malls are all the rage in the outer boroughs. Thor Equities President Joe Sitt is considering bringing one to the former Revere Sugar Refinery on the Red Hook waterfront between the Ikea and Fairway stores, according to Crain’s. It follows reports yesterday that BFC Partners made a similar pitch for the parking lots near Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island and reports last month that the Lightstone Group was planning to bring outlets to the Whitestone Cinema site in Castle Hill.

Sitt had previously tried to bring a BJ’s Wholesale Club or student housing to the 660,000-square-foot site. He said at least 12 discount retailers have approached him to talk about an outlet mall on the site.

Crain’s noted that the proposals in the Bronx and Staten Island appear to be much closer to coming to fruition. However, Sitt had first envisioned a mall on the site back in 2009. [Crain’s] — Adam Fusfeld